Monday, June 9, 2014

Karachi airport: Pakistani Taliban claim responsibility for attack

The Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for an attack on
Karachi airport in revenge for their late leader, Hakimullah Mehsud, who
was killed in a US drone strike in November.

The initial assault at Jinnah international airport in Pakistan’s
southern port city began late on Sunday and raged until dawn, when the
military said that at least 24 people – including all 10 attackers – had
been killed.

Equipped with suicide vests, grenades and rocket-launchers, they had
battled security forces in one of the most brazen attacks in years in
Pakistan’s biggest city.

Fighting resumed early on Monday morning when gunshots could be heard
inside the airport and rangers and elite commandos were seen rushing
inside. Officials later said Pakistani forces were in control of the
airport and would hand it back to civilian authority.